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Lion Links: 8/1/17

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6 years ago

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It’s Wednesday and I am finally writing Lion Links from my home for the first time in a while. I’m looking forward to the last ever Warped Tour this Friday, followed up by my first time back in Orlando City Stadium in a while. So hopefully I bring some good juju this weekend.

Today we are talking MLS All-Star activities, the Pride’s finish to the season, an Orlando City player called up to the U.S. Youth National team, and much more.

Yoshi is Enjoying the All-Star Week, Lindley Starts in Homegrown Game

This week is a new experience for Yoshi Yotún as he gets to experience his first ever MLS All-Star week after he was selected by manager Tata Martino for the match. Yoshi had nothing to say but great things of the fan support he’s received so far.

“The most important thing for me is the fans,” Yotún said through a translator. “After training, I noticed there were many Peruvians in the stands, so I wanted to get there, approach them, interact with them. I also saw fans from many other teams, many other countries. I just wanted to be there, sign autographs, interact.”

In the MLS Homegrown game, rookie Cam Lindley started and played the full 90 against Liga MX’s Tigres U-20 on what was a very rainy night. Overall Lindley looked good in a back-and-forth match. The first half was nearly dominated by the goalkeepers, Lindley earned a foul in the last 30 seconds that led to an ensuing free kick and goal for the Homegrowns to take the 1-0 lead moving into halftime.

The second half had its interesting moments that included an MLS goal overturned by video review — correctly In my opinion — that immediately led to a Tigres indirect free kick and goal inside the penalty area. The Homegrowns also ended a man up after a Tigres player was sent off in the 76th minute but couldn’t find the go-ahead goal in the final 15-plus minutes. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match Ends in 1-1 Draw

Before the MLS Homegrown match, the fifth annual Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Showcase presented by MLS Works and ESPN took place. The Unified Sports All-Star soccer teams will play an 11-v-11 match, featuring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities representing MLS clubs. Orlando City featured two players on the East in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. You can watch the entire match here.

Pride Hitting Final Stretch of Must-Win Games

The NWSL season only has five matches left as the Pride look for consecutive playoff appearances. The road won’t be easy as they’ll face a host of playoff-caliber opponents in Portland, North Carolina, and the Chicago Red Stars with two matches against cellar dweller Sky Blue FC. Midfielder Dani Weatherholt gave her take on the Pride and their outlook via Pro Soccer USA.

“In our second year, we really set the standard of the kind of team we want to be and we want to be in the playoffs every year,” Orlando midfielder Dani Weatherholt told Pro Soccer USA on Monday. “We’ve been in second place for the majority of this year and it’s coming down to the final games. They’re must-win games for us, and I think we’re hitting form at a good time.”

Even after the Tournament of Nations, expect to see players like Alex Morgan, Alanna Kennedy, Marta, etc., involved this weekend with the playoff push ahead.

Ali Krieger is a Ravenclaw

If you’re a Harry Potter fan like me, and to be honest you probably live in Orlando and should get on the same page if you're not, then this was a fun piece done by the NWSL to celebrate the historic tale.

While I’m not surprised at Krieger — who was recently named ECNL’s S’Hero for July — being a Ravenclaw, I was surprised at the sheer number of Slytherins named. Former Pride player Jasmyne Spencer called herself a Gryffindor, but I’m definitely going to call her out as a Hufflepuff. The league needs them and just because you don’t want to be one doesn't mean you aren't. And then other times you just own it, like goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer who, like Krieger, doesn't shock me at all:

Hufflepuff Quidditch 2018

A post shared by Haley Kopmeyer (@hkopmeyer) on

Orlando City Academy Prospect Makes U-17 National Team

The U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team will embark on an 11-day training camp in San Jose, Costa Rica. During the team’s time there, it will play both Mexico and Costa Rica twice in friendlies, as the U.S. is nearly halfway into a two-year international cycle, culminating in the U-17 World Cup in 2019. As part of the 23-man roster, Orlando City Development Academy defender Jahlane Forbes makes his first appearance in a U.S. camp. Congrats, Jahlane!

Not included on the roster is notable U-16 LA Galaxy player Efrain Alvarez who switched his allegiance to Mexico in 2016, but isn’t 100% set on being with El Tri permanently.

“I’m not closing the door on anyone. I could still play for the U.S. or I could keep playing for Mexico. But I’m with Mexico right now and that’s my focus,” Alvarez said.

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As usual, everyone have a great week and I look forward to getting back into the stadium after all my travels have kept me from the past two games! Cheers!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

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16 minutes ago

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January 22, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The ManeLand

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Up here in Tallahassee, I’m waking up to snow/sleet, closed schools, closed government offices, and potentially icy roads. Many people will get an extra day off of work, however, I still get to go to work. I’m sure you can imagine how happy I am about that. Enough of my winter grumbling. Let’s get to the links but not until after we wish Orlando City fullback Michael Halliday a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reportedly Targeting Croatian International

While I can no longer say that Orlando City hasn’t signed any new players, the club is still moving at its traditionally slow speed as compared to other MLS clubs. We had the signing of Nicolas Rodriguez last week. Now, we have Tom Bogert report of yet another winger prospect for the club in Croatian Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka, though it is not a done deal. Hopefully the other targets Bogert mentions are of the striker variety.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881755961125449765?s=46&t=pMoq7Wulqfb35D7C8ydroA

Pride Preseason Begins

The 2024 NWSL champions are back to defend their title. The Orlando Pride returned to training on Tuesday. The club hasn’t needed to add many pieces, though some of the players already here, like Simone Charley and Grace Chanda, haven’t actually played any minutes for the Pride yet. Most of the chemistry is in place for Seb Hines, but reinforcing those bonds will be the challenge as the Pride look to repeat.

USMNT at Inter&Co Tonight

Hopefully you have tickets to the USMNT friendly match versus Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The match starts at 7 p.m. and there are television and streaming options if you’re not going in person. Despite the squad having 14 players with three or fewer caps, Mauricio Pochettino does not consider this an “alternative” squad, nor does he want the players to think of themselves like that.

Girma Reportedly Nearing Completion of Chelsea Move

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is reportedly headed to Chelsea FC Women for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. That is a very big chunk of change for San Diego FC to use to try to replace one of the best defenders in the world. The deal is not complete as of Tuesday evening, but according to the original report from The Athletic, it is close to being done. Girma would be the first women’s soccer player to earn a transfer fee of over $1 million.

MLS Transfer Updates

Other MLS clubs keep on putting pen to paper when it comes to new players. The Chicago Fire are bringing in Jonathan Bamba on a Designated Player deal from La Liga side Celta de Vigo. The Luca de la Torre loan from Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo to San Diego FC is also official.

https://twitter.com/sandiegofc/status/1881741042904350864

Cucho Hernandez evidently wants to stay with the Columbus Crew, though he is still waiting on a new offer.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881786193693823104

Free Kicks

https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1881749040863588770?s=12&t=_WZBNG4ILAyRLdwBeB4mpQ
  • Keep your eyes peeled later today for the NWSL schedule drop.
https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1881749035218042954?s=46&t=pN-YJp3s7ZQlCXqnTAgSfw

That will do it for today. Stay warm out there, my friends. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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1 day ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

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  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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